In your Missourihome, there are some things that just have to work reliably. You need your oven for cooking, the smoke alarm for safety, and without the lights, you may as well go to bed when the sun goes down.

However, of all the fixtures in a home, there is one that MUST work reliably every time: the toilet. Unfortunately, there are quite a few things that can go wrong with a toilet.

The toiletis a durable plumbing fixture that may last for years or decades even. However, we all know that toilet problems are the most terrible plumbing issues for homeowners. Even the bravest of men dread the very thought of unclogging the throne — err the toilet.

But then again, that’s only one plumbing problem amongst the many that you’d have to deal with. There’s still a lot more that you need to watch out for and that is why knowledge, familiarity and basic plumbing skills are important. Check out these tips that will come in handy during toilet repairs.

In this article, we will be covering:

Toilet repair noise and what to do when your toilet makes noise when flushing

Weird toilet flushing sounds – what do they mean?

How to repair a toilet flange

How to replace your toilet flange

Clogged Toilet Fix

It seems like clogged toilets are the most unbearable of all plumbing emergencies we can ever encounter at home. Though such problems provide lesser inconvenience as that of a burst pipe or a leaky hot water heater, they are, on the other hand, messy and gross to handle.

Who would ever want to deal with the toilet, eh? Luckily for us, if it’s not that hard to unclog the john. Do you know how to unclog a toilet the natural way,without the use of chemical cleaners?

Clearing a Clogged Toilet

Boiling Hot Water
For minor clogs, the use of boiling hot water generally solves the problem. Just pour a bucket of water into the toilet, making sure that the motion is speedy and yet not so fast for the john to overflow. If a bucket doesn’t get rid of the issue, try another gallon or two.

Baking Soda And Vinegar
If boiling water doesn’t turn out as your bathroom superhero, get your good old baking soda and vinegar out of the kitchen cupboard! It’s time to do some cooking — errr unclogging — using these common ingredients that we’re pretty sure you always have at home.Now pour a cup of baking soda into the toilet. Follow it up with a cup of vinegar. When the two ingredients combine, they will create a fizzing reaction. Once done, check if the toilet is back to working condition again. If not, let’s try another method!

Boiling Water And Detergent
Try using your favorite dish detergent to remove the clog. Just pour a cup of it into the toilet to lubricate the drainpipes. Once your water has boiled, pour the entire kettle into the john. Now double check the result. Still clogged? Move on to the next one below.

The Plunger
If lubricating the drainpipes still isn’t enough, go get your handy dandy plunger. Position it right into the toilet’s drain hole. Plunge in a steady, consistent yet fast pace. You may also plunge as you flush your toilet to give it more draining action. Repeat the process for about 15 times and check if the problem is taken care of.

The Snake
If your ceramic throne is still not functioning well, you’ll have to get down and dirty. Wear rubber gloves to keep your hands clean. Get your snake or auger, insert it into the toilet drain and move the crank clockwise until the tool touches onto something.When it does, keep on pushing the cable further to break the clog into smaller pieces. You’ll know you’re done snaking around when the wire already moves freely inside the drain. Slowly pull it out and dispose of any waste material inside a bucket or a similar container.

Troubleshooting Toilet Issues

Ghost FlushingThis isn’t a rare toilet problem. Many homeowners experience phantom flushing which involves the presence of sound similar to when a toilet is flushed. What’s inconvenient about this is that the fixture will intermittently make that flushing sound even when no one’s using it.

What causes the problem could be a damaged flapper or a bad flapper seat. The malfunction results to a leak between the tank and the bowl, therefore making water leak and causing the strange reverberation which can strike anytime.

To fix this plumbing problem, the flapper seat must be cleaned or replaced when it’s already too worn out to work.

Weak FlushingWeak flushing is another problem that you have to be ready for. There are times when you’ll notice that waste materials take a long time to get flushed — even when you only peed.

Such a problem may be caused by clogged jet holes. Just get a coat-hanger and poke through those holes to get rid of the sediments and mineral deposits that have accumulated in there. Be extra careful so you won’t scratch the bowl.

Toilet Leaks When FlushedIf you ever hear water trickling into the toilet tank, there’s probably a problem with the supply lines, the float, the refill tube, the ballcock or the inlet valve. This issue is caused by a leak somewhere in the assembly or a component that should be adjusted.

To fix the leak, make sure that the float will stick and that the refill tube isn’t installed too far into the overflow tube. Remember that the refill tube should only go as far as a quarter of an inch below the overflow tube.

Make the necessary adjustments and if these parts won’t get fixed, the only solution left is to replace them.

Leaking SealsIf it leaks somewhere at the base or between the tank and the bowl, you’ll have to check the seals. A leak between the tank and the bowl will result to water shooting from this area.

A leak at the base will cause a forever wet bathroom floor and sooner or later, a wobbly toilet. Tighten the seals and if they’re already worn out, replace them.

Clogs and Toilet OverflowingClogs are the most common toilet problems experienced by property owners. It appears that the more the toilets are used and exposed to different waste substances, the more they get clogged.

Always have a cup plunger ready in case blockages occur. If the plunger won’t do the trick, rely on a plumbing snake. These two are the most efficient plumbing tools that you can use to eradicate stubborn clogs.

How to Repair a Leaking Toilet

Throughout the years of use, you’ll eventually discover that your toilet is leaking. Don’t panic. It has parts that deteriorate as the fixture ages so a simple repair or replacement will solve the problem.

But before you perform the necessary repair, it is important that you identify the source of the issue accurately. From there, you should be able to discern the best way to stop the water seepage.

To help you diagnose your toilet, here’s a quick and easy-to-understand guide we’ve written just for you! Check out the most common causes of toilet leaks.

Worn-out bolts and washers create leaks. There are two large bolts that secure the tank to the toilet bowl. Water will flow out of the connection if these components deteriorate or get worn out.

There’s also a gasket that’s installed between the tank and the toilet bowl. This measures three inches and is responsible for creating a seal between the two toilet parts. If the gasket corrodes, the tank will leak because there will be nothing to support the nuts, bolts and washers in this part.

The toilet tank is a container that holds the water used for flushing. Sometimes, objects fall to the tank that cause cracks. If these are not repaired immediately, they will only get bigger and result to leaks.

The tank has a float assembly inside. It is a set of components that give the fixture its flushing feature. However, when the assembly gets damaged or malfunctions, the flow of water out of the toilet tank will be continuous. Thus, the tank will overflow and cause leaks.

Another culprit is a loose water supply pipe. If this supply pipe becomes loose, cracks or breaks, leaks will surely develop.

Speaking of tubes, there’s an overflow tube inside the tank. This component is responsible for letting water out of the tank to prevent overflow. So when this tube gets clogged, you should expect the tank to get totally filled up and water to flow out of the container non-stop.

Aside from getting loose or breaking, the supply pipe may also get corroded. When they do, water will flow out continuously.

Like the tank, the toilet bowl is also vulnerable to cracking. Once you notice that your toilet bowl is already damaged, it must be replaced immediately not only to avoid leaks but also to prevent accidents.

Another essential component of the toilet is the fill valve. When it fails to work as efficiently as it should, the tank won’t be watertight anymore. That said, have this part replaced immediately when it’s already broken.

When the leak comes from the base of the toilet, it must be due to a damaged or worn out toilet flange. As usual, this part must be replaced with a new one that will keep the connection tight and leak-free.

Toilet Repair Noise: What To Do When Your Toilet Makes Noise After Flushing

Aside from getting clogged, we’re pretty sure that you don’t want your toilets to make weird sounds that might scare the hell out of you in the middle of the night. The only problem is, these sounds cannot be avoided especially when you have an old toilet bowl.

Just like other plumbing fixtures, your toilets have parts that wear out and get damaged over time. And when they do, weird sounds reverberate from them.

Now there are several types of sounds that you might encounter but if it’s specifically making a loud reverberation, much like a foghorn, such a problem may result from the ballcock assembly’s loose washer or a ballcock that isn’t perfectly sealed.

Check out this easy DIY Guide:

Remove the toilet tank’s cover and flush the bowl. If you discover that the valve makes the noise, try to resolve the issue by lifting the float ball up. If doing so gets rid of the noise, it just confirms that there’s a loose or damaged washer in the ballcock assembly

To fix this problem, first shut off the water supply and flush the tank.

When you’re done, locate three screws that are supposedly situated right on top of the fill valve. You’ll have to disassemble the valve assembly so start by removing the screws using your screwdriver. Lift the ball and armature. Finally, carefully lift the flush valve and get it out of the tank.

Remove the washer that you’ll finally access at the bottom of the flush valve. Replace it with a new washer. Put the assembly back in place and turn the water supply on again. Test if the sound has been removed. Otherwise, proceed with the next step.

Check the valve and make sure that it is sealed. If it’s not, you’ll need to replace it as well. Turn the water supply off again before doing the repair.

Flush the tank and scoop out any excess water. You may also use a sponge to absorb the water at the bottom of the tank.

After this, proceed by detaching the water supply line from the toilet’s valve connector which is found right under the tank. Loosen the locknut of the toilet valve with the use of your pliers. Remove the nut screw and lift the worn out valve out of the tank.

Place a new valve and adjust the water fill level. Screw the toilet valve’s locknut again and tighten it with your pliers.

Finally, reconnect the water supply line to the toilet’s valve connector. Turn the water supply on and let the tank fill. Make sure that the water level is an inch above the overflow tube. Flush the toilet again and check if the problem has been fixed.

Repair Toilet Flush: What’s That Weird Sound?

Here are some troubleshooting tips when identifying toilet problems based on flush sounds:

Phantom flushing means that the toilet is creating a flushing sound even when there’s no one using it. This can be due to water waste that’s brought about by a leak somewhere. Find the leak and fix it.

Weird sound after flushing that usually lasts more than a minute may indicate a pressure issue or restricted water flow. Try adjusting your pressure valve. If it doesn’t get rid of the noise, open the tank and lift the float. Then, if the issue is resolved, try replacing the float.

A “cchhhhh” toilet flush sound that occurs sporadically can be a sign of a flapper problem. If the flapper is worn out, an outflow ensues and the toilet tries its best to stabilize the water level, thus creating this sound. Replace the flapper.

If it is having gurgling sounds while it’s refilling, there’s a big chance of the water flow not becoming uneven. Adjust the valve to reduce the supply of water to the tank.

How to Repair a Toilet Flange

Is your toilet squeaky or wobbly? Maybe you need to replace the flange! Over years of use, it is just normal for the toilet flange to deteriorate or get a bit unfastened since it’s always exposed to water.

However, it’s not the easiest plumbing project especially if you’re not a skilled plumber. But as they say, great skills develop from experience. Before you get your plumbing kit and dive into the project right then and there, familiarize yourself first with the flange and its function in your toilet

The flange is necessary as it connects and secures the toilet to the drainpipe in the floor. Without it, your toilet will not stay secured in its place and water or even waste will seep out.

Now when that happens, you should prepare yourself for major cleaning! That being said, you should attend to the problem right away once your toilet bowl gets wobbly. So how do you fix or repair a broken flange? Read this step-by-step guide to learn how!

Your toilet flange has a metal or plastic ring holding the toilet to the floor. It is important because it secures the toilet bowl to the floor and makes the connection to the drain pipe leak-free. You’ll notice that there are holes at the sides of the flange. These holes are where the bolts go through in order to keep the toilet bowl steady.

When this breaks, your toilet can’t be used. You might also discover that the bowl is a little bit wobbly. If you encounter a rocking toilet, well, that means your flange is no longer holding it.

There will come a time that you’ll see water pooling at the base of your ceramic throne. These signs indicate that the toilet flange is already worn out.

Replacing it isn’t as easy as you think. You can purchase repair plates that fix some breaks within the ring or repair rings to cover the entire flange.

Here’s How You Can Replace Your Toilet Flange

Turn the water supply valve of the toilet off to prevent filling up the tank. Now empty the tank by flushing the toilet. You can use a sponge or scoop the remaining water out of the tank. Just ensure that it’s completely empty.

Unscrew the nuts and then loosen the bolts that secure the toilet bowl to the floor. Afterward, break the wax seal that connect the fixture to the flange. When you’re done removing the wax seal, you should be able to remove the bowl. Set it carefully aside and make sure that you’ll put it on top of a towel or rags to prevent it from falling sideways or breaking.

Clean the area where the new flange will be installed. The old wax should be removed with the use of a putty knife or any similar substitute. Guarantee that the area is completely clean to make the new connection leak-free.

If the old toilet flange is not broken or cracked, you can still use it. Otherwise, you’ll have to replace it. If it’s not broken, the leak may be due to loose bolts and nuts. Tighten these parts and re-install the fixture. Check for leaks.

If the flange is damaged, you can get a spanner flange first. It’s a semi-circle part of the flange that can be replaced. You should just unscrew it, remove the bolts and install the replacement in place. Drill the spanner flange to the floor to secure the connection.

Now if the damage is severe and the entire flange is broken, you can just replace the old flange. Clean the installation area; pour the concrete in and let tit set. Put the new flange on top of the concrete and screw it in place.

Put the wax gasket down on the flange. Guarantee that it’s aligned with the flange and the toilet to make the connection leak-free.

Reinstall the toilet bowl and tighten the bolts. Connect the supply line to the tank and turn the water supply valve on. Refill the tank and flush the bowl. Check for leaks.

Call Plumbers 911 Today

From toilet tank installation to any kind of fixture or toilet problems, give us a call today! We have the most reliable Independence plumbersin the Missouri area. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week! Call us today for immediate assistance!

Posted on: December 30, 2018

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